Electric exercising-machine.



`Patented Mar. I9, |90l.

N. H. RAYMN.

ELECTRIC ExEnClslNC MACHINE.

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UNITED STATES PATENT Fries,

NELSON H. RAYMOND, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ALBERT W. OOURTNEY, OF SAME PLAGE.

ELECTRIC EXERClSlNG-NIACl-HNE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,006, dated March 19, v1901.

Application filed August 14, 1900. Serial No. 26,841. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NELSON H. RAYMOND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in ElectridExercising-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of electric exercising-machines which comprise a magneto-electric generator having its armature-shaft provided with dliving-pulleys,combined actuating-cords and electrical conductors passing around said pulleys and terminating in metallic handles, whereby the cords are drawn over the pulleys for rotating the armature and which form the body-contacts or electrodes of the generator-circuit, and a spring or other suitable resisting medium connected with the pnll-cords for opposing` the pulling force of the operator and effecting the return stroke of the cords.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an exercising-machine of this character in which a current is produced not only during the downward stroke of each pull-cord, but also during the upward or return stroke of each cord, so as to maintain a practically continuous current during the operation of the machine regardless of whether the cords are pulled separately or together.

My invention has the further objects to combine with the apparatus an auxiliary electrical conductor and a switch of simple and convenient construction,whereby the current may be passed through the feet and the limbs as well as the upper part of the body, if desired, and to provide simple means for increasing or diminishing the strength of the current passed through the operators body.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a perspective view of my im proved exercising apparatus. Eig. 2 is a diagram showing the various circuits. Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the machine, taken lengthwise through the armature-shafts. Eig. 4 is a vertical section in line 4 l, Fig. 3, showing one of the circuitbreakers.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is a rectangular boX or casing, which in closes the magneto electric generator and which is attached at a suitable elevation to a wall or other support.

B B are two permanent or field magnets arranged side by side in the casing, and O O are a pair of rotary armatures arranged within said magnets, respectively. Each of these armatures is provided with a hollow metallic shaft c, which is formed in one piece with the metallic body of Ihe armature or secured thereto and which turns upon a fixed shaft or spindle D. This fixed shaft extends through the side walls of the casing A, and its ends are secured to brackets or hangers D', which are fastened to said side walls The hollow shafts of the armatures are separately mounted on the fixed shaft D, but in electrical contact therewith, and they pass through the side walls of the casing, their ends being seated in bearings or recesses formed in the inner sides of the brackets D, as shown in Fig. 3.

E E are grooved driving-pulleys secured to the projecting portions of the respective hollow shafts c, and ff the combined pullcords and flexible electric conductors which run over said pulleys. The front branches of these cords terminate in electrodes or metallic handles F, which are connected with the usual conducting-wires contained in the cords, while the rear branches of the cords are doubled in the form of loops f and pass through the bottom of the casing. The rear branches are electrically connected with cont-acts g g, arranged at the bottom of the case` H is the usual elastic resisting-cord, which is looped around a hook h, secured to the floor or other support, and which is provided at its ends with hooks 71,', which are attached to the forks of guidepulleys h2, arranged in the bights of the cord loops f' in a well-known manner. The coils or windings of the armatures are electrically connected at one endv to the hollow shafts c of the armatures and at the opposite ends to metallic rings 1rl,re spectively, which rings are secured to said shafts, but insulated therefrom.

L2/3 are contact springs or brushes secured to the rear wall of tlpe casing and bearing against the peripheries of the insulated rings t t. The contact-brush i3 is connected with the cord-contact g by a wire 4, while the other contact-brush t2 is connected with a Contact spring or switch j by a wirej'. This switclrspring is secured at one end to an insulating-block 7.a, and its opposite free end normally rests upon the contact g. When the switch-spring] bears upon the contact g and the operator reciprocates the handles F, the current passes from one of the hollow armature-shafts through the coil of one of said armatures to the contact-ring t", the brush t3, wire t, contact g', right-hand cord f and handle F, the operators body, the left-hand handle F and cordf, the Contact g, switch-spring j, wil-ey, contact-brush j?, ring t', the coil ot the other armature, and the iixed shaft D back to the hollow shaft of the iirst-named armature. This circuit will be hereinafter referred to as the arm-circuit.

The switch-spring g' is secured at one end to the block it, and its 'free end is arranged under the contact g, so that said switch-spring may be pressed upwardly against said contact, as shown in Fig. 2. This switch-spring is normally outof contact with thc contact g, as shown in Fig. 3.

L is the foot-plate or auxiliary electrode upon which the operator stands when the elecl ric current is to be passed through thelegs and the truuk of the body.l as well as through the arms. Vith this plate is connected an insulated wire or flexible conductor M, terminating in a switch-plug M', having a lnetallie core and a surrounding body of insulating material. This plug is adapted to be passed upwardly through an opening n, formed in the bottom ot' the casing opposite the switeh-sLn-ing g and j, and also through an opening n', formed in the lower switchspring g in li'ne with the opening n, so that upon pushing said plug into said openings the metallic upper end of the plug strikes the upper switch-springy and lifts its free end off the contact g, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby interrupting the connection between said upper switch-spring and said contact and at the same time establishing an electrical connection between said spring and the foot-plate L through the switch-plug andthe conducting-wire M. The switch-plug M is provided at a distance from its front end with an insulated shoulder or enlargement m, which comes in contact with the under side of the lower switch-spring g and presses the latter against the contact g upon inserting the plug in its openings, as shown in Fig. 2, Jl/'hen the switch-plug is thus inserted and the operator stands on the foot-plate and operates one or both handles F, the current passes from the armature-shafts through the right-hand contact-ring t", brush t3, wire t, right-hand cord fand handle F, the operators body, the foot-plate L, conducting-cord M, switch-plug M", switch-spring j, wire j, contact-brush i2, and ingt' back to the armatures. The left-hand cordfis also switched into the circuit by the contact of the lower switch-spring g with the contact g, the current thus dividing at the contact g and passing through both arms ot the operator if he grasps both of the handles F. This circuit will be hereinafter referred to as the combined arm and foot circuit.

In order to intensify the ellect of the current, a pair of circuit-break ws of any suitable construction are preferably arranged in a shunt around the generator-circuit. The circuit-breakers shown in the drawings consist of a pair of toothed or star wheels o o, secured to the hollow armature-shafts, re spectively, and electrically connected therewith, and metallic spring lingers or brushes 02 03, secured to the casing and bearing at their free ends against the teeth of the starwheels in suoli manner that the springs snap over the teeth successively by the rotation of the wheels in either direction. The brushes 02 o3 are connected with the insulated contact-rings ft2 3 by wires o" o5. vW henever by the rotation ofthe star-wheels one ol' these brushes comes in contact with a tooth of the corresponding star-wheel a circuit is established through the coils ol the armatures and the latter are short-circuited, while during the instant that the brush is snapping from one tooth to the next it out of contact with the star wheel and the circuit through the brush is broken and established through the electrodes and the body of the operator. By this arrangement every time that the circuit is established through the handles F or through the handles and the foot-plate L a current is produced which, as is Well known, is of much higher electromotive force than that generated directly by the rotation of the armature in the field-magnets, giving the operator a succession of comparatively strong shocks.

For the purpose of enabling the strength of the current received by the operator to be graduated or reduced below the maximum more or less a shunt-circuit coutaiui ug a number of connected resistance-coils p p'p is combined with the main circuit. These resistance-coils are preferably mounted on the front plate of the casingAand connected, respectively, with the shanks of contact-buttons p3 194295 p6, which extend through the front plate of the casing. p7 is a dead-button arranged at the rear end of the series ol buttons and having no connection with the shunt or the main circuit. The first active button p3 of the series is connected by a wire q with a contact q', which is secured to the innerside of the front plate of the casingaud which is adapted to bear against an internal contact q2 secured to the top board of the casing when the front plate is in place. The contact q2 is connected with the adjacent contact-brush o2 by a wire g3.

r is a switch-lever pivoted by a pin o" to the front plate of the casing and arranged to traverse the contact-buttonspg p7. The pivot of this lever is connected by a wire .s with a contact s', preferably secured to the inner side of the front plate of the casing and IOO IOS

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, case when said front plate is in place.

bearing against a contact s2 at the top of the This contact s2 is connected with the other brush o3 by a wire s3,

When the shunt-circuit is switched into the main circuit, the strength or pressure of the current received by the operator is greater or less, according to the amount of resistance included in the shunt-circuit, the same being greater when the resistance is increased and less when the resistance is reduced. When the switch-lever ris moved upon the first acti ve button p3, the exercising-current is shortcircuited, and no appreciable current passes through the same. When the lever is shifted upon the second active button p4, the rst resistance-coil p is included in the shunt-circuit, and the resistance offered by said circuit is increased accordingly, thereby increasing the amount of current received by the operator in the same measure. The strength of the current passing over the exercising-circuit is still further increased by shifting the lever upon the third button p5 or the fourth button p6. Upon shifting the lever upon the dead-button p7 the shunt-circuit is cut ont altogether, and the operator receives the maximum strength of the current. When it is desired to pass the current only through the arms and the upper portion of the body, the arm-circuit is established by removing the switch-plug M from its socket. The operator then grasps the handles F and reciprocates the same either together, alternately, or one at a time, according to the nature of the particular exeroise desired or the fancy of the operator. If it is desired to use both the arm and the foot circuits, the operator simply inserts the switch-plug M' in its socket, as hereinbefore described.

By combining two armatures and magnets, as herein shown, a current is produced and maintained as long as one or the other of the cords is reciprocated, and a current is produced during the upward or return stroke as well as during the downward or pulling stroke of the handles. This enables the operator to exercise either arm alone or both arms at the same time or alternately, as desired, and at the same time maintain a continuous current, and this result is attained without the use of pawls and ratchets or similar clutch devices, which increase the cost of the apparatus and are liable to get out of order and which produce no current during the return stroke of the pull-cord.

While I have herein shown the auxiliary plate or electrode L as a foot-plate, it is obvious that the same could be applied to other parts 0f the body.

l claim as my inventionl. In an electric exercising-machine, the combination with a pair of magnets and a pair of electrically-connected rotary armatures cooperating therewith, and mounted on independent shafts each of which is provided with a driving-pulley and conducting and actuating cords ruiming around said pulleys and provided at one end with electrodes or body-contacts and having their opposite ends connected with the armature-coils, substantially asset forth.

2. In an electric exercising-machine, the combination with a casing and a pair of permanent magnets arranged therein, of a main shaft arranged in the casing and extending through the side walls thereof, brackets secured to the outer sides of the casing and supporting the projecting ends of said shaft, a pair of rotary armatures cooperating with said magnets and mounted on independent hollow shafts which turn on said main shaft and extend through the walls of the casing, driving-pulleys secured to the projecting portions of said hollow shafts, and conducting and actuating cords running around said pulleys and provided at one end with electrodes or body-contacts and having their opposite ends connected with the armature-coils, substantially as set forth.

3. In an electric exercising-niacinne, the combination with an electric generator having its armature-shaft provided with drivingpulleys, of conducting and actuating cords passing around said pulleys and provided at one end with electrodes or body-contacts and having their opposite ends connected with the armature-coils, a switch member included in the same circuit with said cords for establishing or breaking said circuit, and an auxiliary cord or conductor provided at one end with an electrode or body-contact, and at its opposite end with a contact adapted to come in contact with said switch member, substantially as set forth.

4. In an electric exercising-machine, the combination with an electric generator having its armature-shaft provided with a driving-pulley, of conducting and actuating cords passing around said pulleys and provided at one end with electrodes or body-contacts and having their opposite ends connected with the armature-coils, switch member and a cooperating contact included in the saine circuit with said cords for establishing or breaking said circuit, a second switch member arranged opposite said first-named switch member and said contact, and connected with a branch of said circuit, and an auxiliary cord or conductor provided at one end with an electrode or body-contact and at its opposite end with a switch-plug which is adapted to come in contact with said first-named switch member and disconnect the same from said contact, and which is constructed to engage against said second-named switch member and move the same against said contact, substantially as set forth.

o. In an electric exercising-machine, the combination with an electric generator having its armature-shaft provided with drivingpulleys, of conducting and actuating cords passing around said pulleys and provided at IOO lIO

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one end with electrodes or body-contacts and having; their opposite ends connected with the arn'iature-coils, a switch-spring' and a comperatingr contact included in the same circuit with said cords, a second switchspring,` arranged opposite the first-nained switchspring and said contact and provided with an opening, and connected with a branch of said circuit, and an auxiliary cord or conductor provided at one end with an electrode or body-contact and at its opposite end with a switch-plugr which is adapted to pass through the opening` of said second-named switchsprin g and make contact with said irst-nam ed switch-sprlng` and which is provided With a shoulder or projection adapted to engage against said second-named switch-spring and move the saine against said contact, substantially as set forth.

G. ln an electric exercising` apparatus, the combination with an electric generator having its armatnre-shaft provided with drivingpulleys, of actuatingand cmiducting` cords passing` around said pulleys, provided with electrodes and included in the generator-circuit, a shunt-circuit containing a resistance, and a switch arranged to cut said shunt-ciw cuit into or out of the generator-circuit, substantially as set forth.

7. In an electric exercising apparatus, the

' c: oft/aoco combination With an electric generator havinfnr its armature-shaft provided with drivingpulleys, of actuating and conducting,` cords inusing,` around said pulleys, provided with electrodes and included in the generator-circuit, a shunt-circuit containing a number of resistf/nice-coils each having; one of its terminals connected with a contact, and a switchlever connected With one of the terminals of said sluint-cireuit and arranged to traverse said coil-contacts, substantially as set forth.

8. ln an electric exercising apparatus, the combination with a pair of magnets and a pair of rotary armatures having` separate shafts which are provided with driving-pulleys, of actuating and conducting,y cords passing` over said pulleys and included in the armatu re-circuit, an auxiliar)7 circuit connected with each armature-coil and containing a male-andbreak device, a shunt-circuit connected with both of said armature-circuits and containinga resistance, and a switch for cutting,` said shunt-circuit into and out of the generator-circuit, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 18th day ol July, 1900.

NELSON H. RAYMOND. Nitnessesc CARL F. GEYER, CLAUDIA M. BENTLEY. 

